Listening to the Child's World

This is one of the most poignant scenes in the Analects. While other disciples describe grand political ambitions, Zeng Xi offers a vision of simple joy—bathing in a river, enjoying the breeze, singing on the way home. Confucius' deep sigh of agreement (喟然歎) reveals that the sage's heart, beneath all political frustration, longs for the beautiful simplicity of shared joy with others, including young people.